ALL THE WAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 28, 26 April 1927, Page 6

ALL THE WAY

HOW KING MERV WON WAIKATO OWNER’S LUCK TURNS After his fine run in the Auckland Easter Handicap, it came as rather a surprise to find King Merv at such a good price for the Titirangi Handicap on Saturday, four others being preferred to him in the betting. They were by no means a class lot, for only 151 b. separated the top and bottom weights. At the start King Merv got away splendidly, and soon running to the front stayed there. At the finish King Merv was doing it on the bit, and so managed to break the long spell of ill-luck which has been dogging the steps of Mr. J. Fraser Smith. Charlady was always in a good position, and she saw out the mile in solid fashion, but had to acknowledge defeat. She was even less fancied than the winner, despite the form she displayed at Whangarei three weeks previously. RIGHT FOR THE WINTER Zircon ran a surprisingly good race, for after being well back over the initial stages he gradually moved up to within range of the pacemaker, finishing well in third place. The chestnut looks in nice order for winter racing. Gold Jacket, who finished fourth, was somewhat disappointing, but the fast pace set seemed to carry him off his feet, and although fourth at the end he did not make a very good showing. The favourite, Quincoma, flattered at one stage, and then quickly dropped out of the contest. Hippy ran disappointingly, failing to come on in the straight, at which stage he was lying just behind the leading pair. Nucleus ran a fair race and she can do much better. Outside of Gold Fern, none of the others were at all prominent. Eh Timi was in the rear early, and was closer at the end, without being dangerous, than at any stage of the race.